# What does a carpenter do in India and how do you hire one?

> A carpenter in India designs, builds and repairs wood and wood-based furniture — wardrobes, modular kitchens, doors, beds, cabinets, shelves. Small repairs ₹150–₹1,500. Sq-ft billing on bigger work: polish ₹80–₹180/sqft, wardrobe ₹900–₹1,800/sqft (labour only), kitchen ₹1,200–₹2,500/sqft. To hire: check specialisation (wardrobe vs kitchen vs polish), get a written quote before material purchase, and use a directory that shows the carpenter's direct phone (no commission).

**Source:** [https://solve24.in/answers/carpenter-in-india](https://solve24.in/answers/carpenter-in-india)  
**Updated:** 2026-09-06  
**Trade:** carpenter  

## Answer

A carpenter is a skilled tradesperson who designs, cuts, joins, finishes and installs wood and wood-based products (plywood, MDF, HDMR, laminate). In India in 2026, carpenters split into clear specialisations: wardrobe carpenters (bedroom + storage), modular kitchen carpenters (highest ticket, most technical), door and window carpenters (frame + shutter + hardware), polish specialists (melamine, PU, wood restoration), and repair/service carpenters (hinges, drawers, minor damage). Most independent carpenters take multiple types but excel at one or two.

What a carpenter charges: repair jobs are per-fix — hinge/drawer/handle repair ₹150–₹500, sofa repair ₹500–₹2,500, door adjustment ₹300–₹1,000. Bigger work is sq-ft billed: polish ₹80–₹180/sqft (labour only), wardrobe ₹900–₹1,800/sqft (labour only), modular kitchen ₹1,200–₹2,500/sqft (labour only). With material, wardrobes reach ₹1,500–₹3,200/sqft and kitchens ₹2,200–₹4,500/sqft depending on plywood grade (commercial < BWP < HDMR). Metros run 25–30% higher.

How to hire a carpenter in India: (1) match specialisation to job — a wardrobe carpenter isn't a door carpenter and vice versa; (2) ask to see photos of finished work (real carpenters keep a portfolio on their phone); (3) confirm plywood grade in the quote (this is the biggest hidden cost + quality lever — cheap plywood + good labour = failed cabinet in 2 years); (4) get labour, sheet material, hardware, and finishing broken out separately in the quote — reputable carpenters do this without pushback.

Direct vs interior firm: a direct-hire carpenter for a wardrobe project costs ₹63,000–₹1,26,000 (labour only) for a ~5-day 70sqft build. The same project through an interior design firm is ₹1,50,000–₹3,00,000 — the ₹90K–₹1.7L difference is the firm's design margin, project management, and profit. For simple, well-defined work (single wardrobe, kitchen refresh, standard TV unit) direct-hire saves 40–60%. For complex full-home interior work with tight design coordination, a firm is worth the premium.

Carpenter career + earnings: ₹18,000–₹65,000/month depending on skill. Freshers ₹18K–₹24K; mid-career ₹28K–₹50K; senior carpenter contractor (his own team, sq-ft billing on direct clients) ₹60K–₹1,20,000/month. Per-day rate ₹600–₹2,200. The biggest earning lever is billing per-sqft on direct clients instead of per-day for a contractor — a sq-ft-billed wardrobe project pays ₹63K–₹1.26L for ~5 days of work vs ₹6K–₹11K on day-rate. But sq-ft billing needs direct client relationships (not builder contracts).

## Data

**Carpenter charges in India — labour only (2026)**

| Work type | Rate | Metro rate | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hinge / drawer repair | ₹150–₹500 | ₹195–₹650 | Per fix |
| Sofa repair | ₹500–₹2,500 | ₹650–₹3,250 | Rework depending on damage |
| Door adjustment / rehang | ₹300–₹1,000 | ₹390–₹1,300 |  |
| Wood polish (labour) | ₹80–₹180/sqft | ₹104–₹234/sqft | PU polish extra |
| Wardrobe (labour only) | ₹900–₹1,800/sqft | ₹1,170–₹2,340/sqft | Ply grade dependent |
| Wardrobe (with material) | ₹1,500–₹3,200/sqft | ₹1,950–₹4,160/sqft | Includes BWP ply |
| Modular kitchen (labour) | ₹1,200–₹2,500/sqft | ₹1,560–₹3,250/sqft |  |
| Modular kitchen (with material) | ₹2,200–₹4,500/sqft | ₹2,860–₹5,850/sqft | Chimney/hob separate |
| TV unit / bookshelf | ₹700–₹1,400/sqft | ₹910–₹1,820/sqft | Laminate finish |
| Door frame + shutter | ₹500–₹900/sqft | ₹650–₹1,170/sqft | Timber separate |

## Frequently asked

### How much does a carpenter charge per day in India?

₹600–₹2,200 per day depending on skill. Freshers ₹600–₹900, mid-career ₹1,000–₹1,500, senior ₹1,500–₹2,200. Metros +25–30%. Per-day billing is best for repair/service work; per-sqft is better for wardrobes/kitchens.

### What plywood grade should I ask my carpenter to use?

BWP (boiling waterproof) ply for wardrobes and kitchens — it survives moisture and long-term humidity. Commercial ply is fine for TV units, bookshelves, non-load-bearing furniture. HDMR is best for kitchen (moisture-resistant + termite-treated) but 20–30% costlier than BWP.

### How do I find a good carpenter near me?

Use a directory that shows the carpenter's direct phone number, specialisation, and real reviews (with photos, not just star ratings). Verify they're in your city, not 30 km away. Ask to see their previous work portfolio before hiring. Call 2–3 for quotes on anything above ₹10,000.

### What is the difference between wardrobe and modular kitchen carpenters?

Different skill sets. Wardrobe carpenters focus on internal shelving, hanging rods, drawer slides, standard finish. Modular kitchen carpenters handle waterproof ply (BWP/HDMR), specialist hardware (soft-close, tandem, pull-outs), chimney/hob cutouts, and finish coordination with countertops. Kitchen work needs 2–3× more precision.

### Should I hire a carpenter directly or through an interior firm?

For a single wardrobe, TV unit, or kitchen refresh — direct hire saves 40–60%. For a full-home interior with coordinated design across rooms, a firm is worth the premium because you get design + project management. Between the two: a good direct-hire carpenter who also draws simple layouts is the sweet spot.

### What is the carpenter labour rate per sqft in India?

Polish ₹80–₹180/sqft, wardrobe ₹900–₹1,800/sqft, modular kitchen ₹1,200–₹2,500/sqft — labour only. With material: wardrobe ₹1,500–₹3,200/sqft, kitchen ₹2,200–₹4,500/sqft. Metros +25–30%.

### Do carpenters charge a visit fee for measurement?

Yes — ₹200–₹500 for measurement + design consultation. Reputable carpenters credit this back into the final bill if you hire them for the actual project on the same visit.

### How much does a carpenter earn per month in India?

₹18,000–₹65,000/month. Freshers ₹18K–₹24K, mid-career ₹28K–₹50K, senior carpenter contractor with direct clients + sq-ft billing ₹60K–₹1,20,000+. Direct-customer route is the biggest earning lever — commission apps take 15–30% off every project.

## Related

- https://solve24.in/answers/carpenter-charges-in-india
- https://solve24.in/answers/carpenter-labour-rate-per-square-feet
- https://solve24.in/answers/carpenter-salary-in-india
- https://solve24.in/answers/carpenter-near-me

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